Christmastime Is Here: Christian Books and Movies for the Holidays

This year’s holiday season brings a bounty of books and movies ready to bring some yuletide cheer your way. There’s something for everyone—romance, suspense, Amish, historical—and even some for the kiddos!

CONTEMPORARY

For an inspiring contemporary story, try Christmas at Grey Sage (Gilead Publishing) by Phyllis Clark Nichols. A sprawling inn nestled among snow-covered mountains in Santa Fe is the setting of this engaging tale about a group of weary travelers stranded by a snowstorm. Tensions mount as the storm worsens, but as the trapped strangers begin to share stories and secrets, friendships are forged and hearts find healing.

AMISH

If Amish fiction is your cup of tea, check out these heartwarming holiday reads….

The Beloved Christmas Quilt (Shiloh Run Press) is a collection of three stories written by Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law Jean, and Wanda’s granddaughter Richelle. The common thread among the stories is an heirloom quilt with an embroidered Bible verse that brings hope to three generations of Pennsylvania Amish women at Christmastime.

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray gifts readers with a suspenseful Christmastime story in The Gift (Avon Inspire), the third book in her Amish of Hart County series. When a series of dangerous “accidents” occurs at the Schwartz family’s new farm, it becomes clear that someone wants them gone—could it be the farm’s former owners, the Vances? Neil Vance and Susanna Schwartz are drawn together as they try to uncover the truth before someone gets hurt—or worse.

In Linda Byler’s A Dog for Christmas (Good Books), young Amish twins Harvey and Henry adopt a black Newfoundland dog on Christmas Day. When tragedy strikes, one twin is left alone and finds comfort in his canine companion. Eventually, Lucky passes away, and the growing young man wonders if he will ever find another friend as faithful and loving.

ROMANCE

If your taste runs to romance, you might fall in love with one of these….

For suspense at sea, there’s Christmas Captive (Love Inspired Suspense) by Liz Johnson. When a Christmas cruise wedding is interrupted by kidnappers, Navy SEAL Jordan Somerton and DEA agent Amy Delgado band together to protect the passengers and thwart the criminals’ dangerous plot.

Historical romance fans will enjoy Tamera Alexander’s Civil War-era Christmas at Carnton: A Novella (Thomas Nelson). Recovering from a head wound, Captain Jake Winston reluctantly follows an order to assist with a Women’s Relief Society auction. He soon discovers that this bunch of ladies—one in particular—is more than he bargained for.

Dana Mentink brings a little Western flair with Cowboy Christmas Guardian (Love Inspired Suspense). Widowed cowboy Barrett Thorn feels protective toward Shelby Arroyo after rescuing her from an attack, but will his feelings change after he discovers her secret?

Finally, New York Times bestselling author Cindy Woodsmall teamed up with her daughter-in-law Erin to write The Gift of Christmas Past (Stonewater Books). The romance between teens Hadley and Monroe is shattered when lies and manipulation lead to one of them being arrested. Ten years later, the former sweethearts are thrown together to help a traumatized child. Will they be able to overcome past heartache and trust each other again?

CHILDREN’S

Don’t forget the kids! These brand-new titles are full of Christmas cheer:

New from VeggieTales is We Wish You a Merry Christmas! (Worthykids), perfect for ages 2–5. Larry and the Veggies are having a great time decorating the village Christmas tree. Just when they think they have finished, Madame Blue points out what’s missing—a star at the top to remind them of the night Jesus was born. This book also features a button kids can press to hear the Veggies sing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Children aged 4–8 will enjoy The Legends of Christmas Treasury (Zonderkidz), a trio of Yuletide tales from authors Dandi Daley Mackall and Lori Walburg with illustrator Richard Cowdrey. In The Legend of the Christmas Cookie, a boy named Jack learns to be a cheerful giver. The Legend of St. Nicholas tells of a young man who is moved by the plight of the poor. And The Legend of the Candy Cane reveals the symbolism behind the sweet striped treat.

Based on the animated movie The Star from Sony Pictures, The Star Deluxe Junior Novelization (Simon Spotlight) will entertain readers aged 8–12. A small but brave donkey and his animal friends tell the nativity story from their own point of view in this charming look at the very first Christmas.

MOVIES

If you can’t get enough Hallmark movies, grab a cup of cocoa and enjoy one of these family-friendly Christmas DVDs:

Based on the same-titled novel by Donna VanLiere, The Christmas Note brings a touching story of forgiveness, hope, and redemption. A stressed mom (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) finds a new friend and a renewed purpose in her life when she helps a neighbor solve a mystery.

In Operation Christmas, a single mom (Tricia Helfer) is disappointed when her boyfriend (Marc Lucas) is deployed just before Christmas. When she and her children decide to spend the holidays giving back to the struggling families on his military base, they are rewarded in ways they never imagined.

Also worth a mention is the release of the Gold Crown Collector’s Edition of November Christmas, starring Sam Elliot and John Corbett. As 8-year-old Vanessa (Emily Alyn Lind) battles a serious illness, her family and the community join forces to give the young girl a holiday season she will never forget.